A Golden Chain, Part 7
Hallowed]
TO hallow is to seuer or set apart any thing from the common vse, to some proper and peculiar end: as the Temple was hallowed, that is, set apart to an holy vse; and the Priests were sanctified, that is, set apart to the seruice of God. And all that beleeue in Christ are sanctified, that is, set apart from sinne to serue God. In like manner Gods name is hallowed, when it is put apart frō obliuion, contempt, prophanation, pollution, blasphemie, and all abuses to an holy, reuerent, and honorable vse, whether we thinke, speake of it, or vse it any manner of way. Leuit. 10.3. Ezech. 38.23.
Quest. How can a sinfull man hallow Gods name which is pure and holy in it selfe? Ans. We doe not here pray that we might make Gods name holy, as though we could adde something vntounto it to make it holy: but that we might be meanes to declare and make manifest to the world by the right vsage of it, that it is holy, pure and honourable. The like phrase is vsed, Luke 7. 9. Wisdome is iustified by her children: that is, acknowledged and declared to be iust. Ezech. 38.23.
The scope therefore of the first petition, is an earnest desire that we might set forth Gods glory, whatsoeuer become of vsus: and it may be expressed thus. O Lord open our eyes that we may aright know thee, and acknowledge the greatnes of thy power, wisdome, iustice, and mercy, which appeares, in thy titles, words, creatures, & iudgements: and grant that when we vse any of these, we may therein honour thee, and vse them reuerently to thy glorie.
3. The wants which are to be bewailed.
1. THE wants, which we in this place are taught to bewaile, are specially foure. The first is an inward and spirituall pride of our hearts; a sinne that none or very fewe can see in themselues, vnlesse the Lord open their eies. When our first parents were tempted in paradise, the deuill told them they should be as Gods: which lesson not onelyonly they, but we hauehave learned: and wee conceiue of our selues, as little gods, though to the world we shew it not. This hidden pride, when other sinnes die, it begins to get strength, and to shewe it selfe: and appeares in vaine thoughts, continually on eueryevery occasion ascending in the mind. As may appeare in the Pharisie, whose thoughts were these when he praied thus within himselfe, O God I thanke thee that I am not as other men, extortioners, vniust, adulterers, or euen as this Publican, &c. And as this was in him, so it is in vsus till God giuegive grace: for so that men may hauehave praise & glory in the world, they care not for Gods glory though it be defaced. We must therefore learne to discerne this hidden corruption, and to mourne for it: for it doth poison and hinder al good desires of glorifying god, so long, as it doth or shall preuaile in the heart.
2. Secondly, wee are taught here to bewaile the hardnesse of our hearts: whereby we are hindred from knowing God aright, and from discerning the glory and maiestie of God in his creatures. Mark. 6.52. The disciples, through the hardnes of their hearts, could not see Gods power in the miracle of feeding many thousands with a few loaues, though themselues were instruments of it, and the foode did increase in their hands. Our redemption, what a wonderful worke is it, but how few consider of it, or regard it? If we see a man hauehave more wit, wealth, or honour, then we hauehave, wee straight wonder at him: but beholding Gods creatures, we see nothing in them, because we doe not goe higher to acknowledge the louelove, power, wisdome, and iustice of the Creator. And this is the cause why Gods name is so slenderly honoured among men.
3. The third corruption is our great ingratitude, for the Lord hath made heauen and earth, and all other creatures to serue man: yet he is the most vnthankfull of all creatures. Bestow many iewels, or a kings raunsome on a dead man; he wil neuer returne any kindnes: so men being dead in sinne, deale with God. Commonly men are like the swine that run with their groines and eate vp the mast, but neuer looke vp to the tree from whence it falleth. But the godly are with Dauid, to feele this want in themselues, and to beseech God to open and as it were to vnlocke their lips, that they may indeauour to be thanfull to God. Psal. 51.15.
4. The fourth is the vngodlines & the innumerable wāts that be in our liues, and the sinnes committed in the world. Psal. 119.136. Mine eies (saith Dauid) gush out with riuers of water, because men keepe not thy lawes. The reason is, because he which liues in sinne, reproches Gods name; euen as an euill childe dishonours his father. Now some will say that this cannot be: because our sinnes cānot hurt God. True indeed: yet are they a cause of slādering Gods name among men: for as we honour him by our good workes, so we dishonour him by our offences. Matth. 5.16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good workes, and glorifie your father which is in heauen.
4. Graces to be desired.
1. THe graces to be desired, and to bee praied for at Gods hand, are three. The first is the knowledge of God, that is, that we might knowe him as he hath reuealed himselfe in his word, works and creatures. For how shall any glorifie God before he know him? Our knowledge in this life is imperfect. Exod. 23. Moses may not see Gods face, but his hinder parts. 1. Corin. 13.12. We may see God as men doe, through spectacles in his word, sacraments, and creatures. And therefore as Paul praied for the Colossians. Col. 1.10. That they might increase in the knowledge of God: so are wee taught to pray for our selues in this petition.
2. We desire that a zeale of Gods glorie may be kindled in our hearts, and that we may be kept from prophaning and abusing of his name. Psal. 69.9. The zeale of thine house hath eaten me vp. Psal. 45.1. My heart shall vtter, or cast vp a good matter. I will speake in my workes of the king. Here the spirit of God borrowes a comparison from men, thus. As hee which hath somewhat lying heauie in his stomacke, is neuer quiet till he hauehave cast it vp: euen so the care & desire to glorifie Gods name must lie vponupon a mans heart as an heauie burden: and he is not to be at ease and quiet with himselfe till he bee disburdened, in sounding forth Gods praise. Luther saith well, that this is Sancta crapula: that is, an holy surfet: and it is no hurt continually to hauehave our hearts ouercharged thus.
3. A desire to lead a godly and vpright life before God and men. We see men that in some great calling vnderunder honourable personages, will so order & behaue themselues, as they may please and honour their masters: euen so must our liues be well ordered, and we are to labour to walke worthie of the Lord (as Paul speaketh) that we may honour our heauenly father.